Jongho could feel Yeosang's eyes boring into him from across the room.

As if he didn't feel guilty enough.

It wasn't like he wanted to leave his closest friends trapped in a dark closet for an hour but he couldn't risk hurting all of the people who were currently safe in the bathroom. It wasn't fair to everyone else to just blindly trust them because they were friends.

But as much as he rationalized it in his mind, his emotions disagreed.

He'd felt horrible.

Seeing their tired expressions. Knowing how hard it must have been to get this far, only to wait another hour to be reunited.

He felt so shitty. For trying to keep everyone safe.

At least San's words had helped a little bit.

"So the four of you will head out first, making your way to the South end of the building. As the attack team, your goal is to take out as many zombies as possible. The second group will head out after a few hours. If we don't see each other, we have to keep going and assume the worst. The goal is to get to the South control room at all costs."

Changbin was going over the plan, making sure each member knew their role.

The two groups were split by fighting power, with Jongho, Mingi, Yunho, San, and Wooyoung in the first group and Jisung, Yeosang, Felix, and Changbin in the second. They wanted to make sure those that were injured or those that weren't ready to face zombies would be kept in the second group. Changbin insisted on staying back as a necessary defender for the group, but everyone knew he was just worried about leaving Felix on his own.

Since Wooyoung, San, and Yunho had already faced the zombies, they knew what they were in for and agreed to lead the first group. Yunho had tried to convince Mingi to stay behind as he was clearly scared of having to fight the zombies but Mingi insisted on going with Yunho.

Felix had accepted his place in the second group, knowing he would only be an inconvenience to the others who would have to fight and defend at the same time.

If he was being honest with himself, he almost wished they'd just leave him here alone.

He didn't want anyone to have to pay him special attention in the dangerous situation outside the bathroom door.

Yeosang was grateful to end up in group 2 but couldn't help thinking about what Mingi had told him. About Jongho.

If the first group failed...

He might never see him again.

He wanted to tell him. He did.

But that would mean accepting the possibility that Jongho would die.

And he couldn't do it.

Jongho would make it. And he would tell him then.

Besides, he might just end up messing with his head. And if Jongho wasn't thinking clearly, he could be in much greater danger.

The only downside to staying in the second group was that all of his members would leave without him. And it was entirely possible that he'd never see any of them again.

But he couldn't bring himself to join the first group. He felt pathetic admitting it, but he was terrified. Having seen the zombies once, he'd been anxious about ever having to leave the bathroom again.

The first group gathered themselves by the door, each holding whatever weapon they had chosen. Those who'd come from the dressing room already had their own weapons of choice-aside from Wooyoung whose cart was still lodged in the hallway. He'd taken a janitor's cart from the closet in place of it, and they'd given Jongho and Mingi their spare umbrellas for protection.

Each member gave Yeosang a quick hug, Jongho coming up to him last.

"Hey, Yeo...I just wanted to say...I'm really sorry."

Yeosang's eyes opened wide. He hadn't expected an apology.

"I was just worried about everyone's safety. I know I really hurt you and...in case I don't get another chance...I wanted to apologize."

Yeosang didn't know how to respond. He'd almost forgotten about his petty remarks, his mind filling with worries about the mission ahead of them.

He felt a bit guilty for making Jongho feel bad. He knew Jongho was just doing what the rest of them didn't have the guts to do.

"Apology not accepted."

Jongho stared at him in shock.

"Because you're not going to die. So you don't have to apologize right now. I won't accept your apology until we get out of this place. Together."

Yeosang felt his cheeks heating up at his bold comment and hoped Jongho didn't notice. But Jongho seemed just as flustered as he was.

"O-Okay. Until then."

With a short embrace-one Yeosang found himself wishing would last longer-group one headed out into the hallway as silently as possible.

Changbin eased the bathroom door shut, trying to make as little noise as possible.

Yeosang moved to sit down by himself across the bathroom, recovering from his emotions. How was he ever going to be able to confess his feelings to Jongho when just looking him in the eye took away all possibility of coherent speech?

Changbin kept watch by the door, listening closely for any signs of distress. Felix came over to sit by him and Changbin helped him to the ground.

"You should've gone with the first team. They could've used you."

Changbin grunted.

"They'll be fine without me."

"But you're our strongest offensive force. If anyone should lead the attack team, it should be you."

"Do you really want to do this right now?" Changbin asked, turning to face Felix.

"Do what?"

"I'm not leaving your side, Felix. It's not gonna happen."

"I wasn't saying you should."

"You were. You think you're a lost cause and I refuse to believe that. I'm getting you out of here. End of story."

"Not end of story. If I get bitten, you leave me and run. Okay?"

"Felix!"

"I mean it! I need to hear you say it!"

"It's not gonna happen!"

"Bin, you need to be realistic here. Hundreds of people have already been turned and they had two working legs. My chances of surviving this are pretty low."

"Fuck, Felix! Don't say that! Do you know how much that hurts?"

"It'll hurt more if you keep denying the possibility! You can't keep fantasizing!"

"It's not a fantasy if I can control it. I'll protect you, Lix. You can't stop me."

"I'm not worth risking your life, Bin."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. And if I can help it, I'd also prefer to make it out of here alive so you don't have to worry about me making some idiotic sacrifice, okay?"

"Bin..."

"Yongbok."

Felix looked at him with a softened expression. Changbin was the only one who ever called him that.

"Don't try to stop me. You know I won't budge on this."

"I know. I guess...I figured I'd try."

"I'm sorry, I just can't trust anyone else to protect you like I can. I know it's selfish...the other group could use my help. But...I just want to keep you safe, Lix."

"I know you do. I just want you to be safe, too."

"It's my fault."

The two turned to see Jisung starting to tear up. Felix's eyes flashed with realization.

"Jisung...not now."

Changbin glanced at Felix but kept his eyes on Han.

"What's your fault?"

Felix stood, grabbing a crutch with one hand and Jisung with the other, making his way to the other end of the bathroom.

"Yah! What are you two talking about?" Changbin called but to no avail.

Felix brought Han to the corner opposite Yeosang and stopped, still holding his shirt bunched in his hand.

"Not now, Han."

"He deserves to know. It was my fault. He can be angry at me. Then he'll stop worrying about you. He can have something else to focus on."

"Why now!? You wouldn't even tell Minho and now you two are worlds apart in the middle of an apocalypse! Why do you think this would do you any good in this situation?!"

Felix quickly drew back after realizing what he had said. Han just stared at him in realization, his eyes starting to water.

"We got separated...because of me. If I'd just told him...or even...if I'd just gone to my own wing...we'd still be with each other. It's all my fault, isn't it?"

"Han, I didn't mean that. It's not your fault. He was an ass. You had every right to come to my side. You couldn't have known what would happen."

"But it is my fault. He was in the right spot. I wasn't."

"Han, if you hadn't been on our side, I wouldn't have been able to hide in time. And Changbin couldn't have saved me on his own. We both know that. If you hadn't come to our side, I'd be dead."

Jisung seemed to be a bit more convinced and nodded, but Felix could tell he'd hit a nerve. He hadn't meant to be so mean. He was just worried about Changbin.

He was the one person who couldn't know. Especially not now. They couldn't afford a fight. And knowing Changbin, there would be one.

And if something happened to Felix...

And Changbin knew Han had played a role in his injury...

He might never forgive him.

So he couldn't tell Changbin.

Ever.